Shock absorber for vehicles



Novks; 1931.

F. G. G. ARMSTRONG SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Arrow/M Nov. 3, 1931. F. G. G. ARMSTRONG 3 3 v SHOCK ABSORBER FOR I VEHICLES Filed Aug. 50, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wi mm Patented Nova-3,1931

" snoox a'BsoRBEn FOR VEHICLES Ajpplicationfiled liug ust so, material n5. s apteam Great ritain September 71,1927.

The "present invention' relates to improve ments, in shock absorbers forvehicles; and is particularly suitablefor application todampin thefinovement'jof the spring jsupport'ed ti ax es of automobileivehiclesl a According to thefpresent invention the dampingeffect exerted by ashock absorber is adapted to be increased towards one end of the range ofmov'ement of thepartsfthe'relariot tive oscillation ofwhichisto beaampea {In the case of a friction shock absorber the pressure applied to the ,frition' lining is increased according to the 'di splacemento'f the movable part, preferably by; meansof a cam or cams,

but in ce'rtain' cases this may be effected by meansof aspring or springs. M J

The invention is more 1 particularly de cribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure'l is anelevation of a'shock'absorber M t I partly in section.

Figures 2,3, land 5Iare similar views of modified forms of the invention.

Figures 6 and7illu'strate:a'detail; p 2 The two arms1", 2 off the shock absorber are adapted to be attached iniknown manner; to

theiaxle of'a-vehicle and tothe 'frame respectively the relative oscillation of which parts it isdesiredto damp. l v i The'arln'l 'has securedto it cylindrical drum part3 adapted to turn within'a friction lining 4 riveted" or otherwisesecured within an outer drum'fi secured to the arm 2of the shock absorber. Ametal' strip 5dr, is illust-rated as surrounding thelining and serving as a means of transmitting power to the free end thereof. I f c 'Toa lug 6 on thefdru'm part 3 is attached one end ofaspring 7 the other end of which is secured to the .endof a lever-g8- fulcrumed about a pin9 on the arr'n2. 7

' It will consequentlybe 'seen'that as the Vangularity of the. arms '1,-2-decreases so is the free end '10 of the friction lining 1secured to the lever-'8, broughtwith' increasing pressure upon the surface of the drum part 3.

, Means such as compression-spring 11, ad-

I justable by the threaded bush 12, may be provided to, adjust-the initial contractional pressureof the lining onthe drum part 3.

A pin 13 on the lever 8 forms asupport and guide for the spring 11. a i In the modified form of construction shown in Figure 2 a watchsspring type of spring 14 is shown substituted for the helical spring 7.

Further a modification of construction is shown in whichthe spring for adjusting't-h e initial friction loading is applied at the fulcrum pin15of the lever 8.

In the further niodification illustrated in Figure'B the friction lining 4 is held at .its

middle only. to the dru'm15,and at one end is attached to the'lever Sfwhilst. at the other end it is attached to a .seeondspring loading 'means 16 adjustable means of theheadlZ. This loading means may be additional to" or alternative to the adjustable loading 18, or' again this spring loading means may act on a second ipivoted lever similar to the lever 8 which hasan end engaging the free end of thelining l'. A L

As shown with reference to Figure 4 means such as a threaded bolt 19 can be provided to ther'a spring or rubber pad can be inserted between the lugs 20, 21 on leverand drum respectively to apply pressure to the lining through the lever Sjand maybe. usedewith l FULLERTON GEORGE eonnon ARMSTRONG, or BEVERLEY, ENGLAND adjust'the tension; of the spring 14. Q Fur- 'orwithont theclo'c'k type spring. The coil 1 spring 13% around the end of thevb0lt'19 acts between the box-like ar m2 and the lever 8 to establish a normal tension on the rebent end 5 jof the metal strip 561. A bolt 31 engaged with the box-like 'a'rmf2 passes through the other end 5m of the metalstrip,'which is" bent outwardly to receive the head of the bolt. In certain cases itinay be desirable to increase the frictional load between the arms'l, 2, as their angularity increases. 7 Such an arrangement is shown by way of examplenin 1 Figure 5 in whichthe position ofthe spring connection 22 is reversed as compared with F gures 1 to 4.

Again'the featuresiof Figure 1 and Figure 7 lwmay, be combined so that the frictional loading increases progressively on increase or decrease of angularity of the arms 1, 2, from a median position. L

The arm 2 is conveniently made hollow or boxlike to enclose the parts.

endto the end of the lever within said drum the turned up portion at the end of said strip The invention has been more particularly described with referenceto a shockabsorber of the type in which the friction part is in thes form of a lining bearing on a cylindrical surface, the improvements are however equally applicable to that type of shock absorber in which the friction elements are in the form "or washers clamped between the arms about 7 their pivotal point. i

tion parts may be shaped so as to present, a

greater area of contact in certain angular positions of the parts-of the shock absorber;

I that is to say, in the case. of friction washers one'washer may have'an'increased thickness 7 providing a cam surface,or again where these are of tubular'form, one, friction part may be slightly oval.

r "I declare that What I claim is '20 ILA shock absorber for damping relativ oscillation between two elements comprising a pair of 'armspivote d at their inner ends andfadapted vto be connected at their outer ends respectively to said elementspacylindricaldrum on one arm, a friction, lining secured to the other arm and engaging with Said drumga lever locatedpartly withinthe I V drum and fulcrume'datone end on the arm e carrying the frictiongliningand attached to 9' one free end of said lining, adjustable spring cine" afflat arm and'a box-shanedarma cvlin- :dri'c a l portion at the inner end of jsaidboxshanedfarm. a cvlind icaldrumon the inner endot saidflat-arm lving-concentrioallv with- 45 in said cylindrical portion. a-frict on lining and a metal strip 'encirclin said lining between the drum'and the c lindrical portion and secured to said Vcvlind-rical portion a turned up port on atone end of said strip, a bolt assin through the box-sha ed vmemher, a lever fulcrumed at one end' about said bolt. an adiustable compression spring abutting said lever and the'boX-shaped arm. a lug on the, cylindrical drum, and a spring attached at one end to saidlug and atthe other so that the spring exerts a. force on the lever V in the same direction as'that of the compres-;

sion spring and a lug on the lever at a point intermediate of said springs engaging with so as to exert a force on the 'leverin counterdirection to that due to said springs.

3. A shock absorber for damping relative oscillation between two elements comprising In a modified form of construction the frica flat arm and a box-shaped arm, a c'ylindri cal portion at the inner end of said boxshaped arm, a cylindricaldr um on the inner end of said fiat arm lying concentrically within said cylindrical portion, a friction lining and a metal strip encircling said lining, between the drum and the cylindrical portion and secured tofsaid cylindrical portion, a i

turned up portion at one end. of said strip, an adjustable compression sprmg abutting the boX-shaped'armand. a bent outportion at the other end ofisaid strip, a boltpassing -through-thebox-shaped member, a lever tulcrumed at one end about said bolt, an adustable' compression spring abutting said lever and the box-shaped arm, alug on the cylindrical drum and. a spring attached at one end to said lug and atthe other end-to the endofthe lever within said drum',so that the spring exerts a force :on the lever in the same direction as that o fthe compression spring, and a lug on the lever at a point intermediate of said springs engagingwith the turned up portionat'the end of said strip so as toexcrt a force on the lever "in counter-direction to that dueto said springs.

4. shocl; V absorber for damping relativeoscillation between'two elements comprising a flat arm and a-box-shapedarm, a cylindrical portion at the inner end of saidboX- shaped arm, a cylindrical drum on the inner end of said flat arm lying concentrically with-' in said cylindrical portion, v a friction lining and a. metal strip encircling said" lining between thedrum andthe cylindrical portion and secured to said cylindrical portion, .a turned up portion at one end of said strip, a bolt passing through the box-shaped memher, a leverfulcrumed atone end about said 7 bolt, an iadjustable compression spring abuti ting saidlever "and the 'boX-shaped arm, a lug on the cylindricaldrum and a spring at tached at one end to said lug and at the other end to the end of the lever within said drum so that the spring exiertsa force on the lever in the same direction as thatof compression spring, arubber pad interposed between the lug on the drum and the end of the lever within the drum and a lug on the lever at a point intermediate or said springs engaging with the turned up portion at the end of said strip so as to exert a force on the leverin counter-direction to that due to saidsprings.

5. A- shock absorber for damping relative oscillation between, two elements comprising a fiat arm and a box-shaped arm, a cylindrical portion at the inner end of said boxshaped arm, a cylindrical drum'on the inner end of said cflat arm lying concentrically within said cylindrical portion, a friction lining and a metal strip encircling said lining between the .drum and the cylndrical portions and secured to said cylindrical portion,'ar

7 her, a lever'fulcrumed at one end about said .bolt, an adjustable compression spring abutting said lever and the box-shaped arm, a lug on the cylindrical drum and a sprlng attached at one. endto said lugand at the other end to. the endjof thelever within said i drumso that the spring 'eXertsa force on the lever in the same direction as that of coms fpression springga rubber pad interposed be- 1 tween'the lug on the drum'fand the'end of the lever withinthe-drum, and a lug on'the leverat a pointintermediate ofsaid' springs engaging with theturned up portion at the end-of said strip so as 'to exert a force on the lever in counter-direction to that due to said springs. J i

6; Ashock absorber for damping relative oscillation between two elements comprising a pair ofarms pivoted together at their inner ends and adapted tobe connected at their outer ends respectively to said elements,a

cylindrical drum on'one arm, a friction-lining secured at a point removed from one end to the otherarm engaging with said cylindrical drum, and means'engaged with said end of the friction lining for increasing'the pres- I sure of said frictionlining on said drum on relative angular movement of the arms in one direction only and for effecting a self-wrapping of said end of the friction lining upon the drum for further increasing said pres:

sure simultaneously with commencement of,

. reversal of such relative movement.

7 A shockabsorber for damping relative oscillation between-two elements comprising a pair of arms pivoted together at their inner ends respectively to said elements, a cylindrical drum on one arm, a friction lining secured at a point removed from one end to the other arm engaging with said cylindrical drum, constant pressure means associated 'with said friction lining, and means engaged with said end of the friction lining for increasing the pressure of said friction lining on said drum on relative angular movement of the arms in one direction only and for effecting a self-wrapping of said end of the friction lining upon the drum for further movement.

increasing said pressure simultaneously with commencement of reversal of such relative 8. A shock absorber for damping relative oscillation between two elements comprising apair of arms pivoted together at their inner ends and adapted to be connected at their outer ends respectively to said elements, a

' V cylindrical drum on onearm, a friction lining i the, other arm and engaging with said secured at a point removed from one end to cylindrical drum, constant pressure means associated with said end of said friction lining means for adjusting said constant pressure means, and means engaged with said end of the friction lining for increasing the pressure of said fr ction lining on said drum on vrelative angular movement of the arms in one direction only and for effecting a self-wrap,- pi'ng of said end of' the friction lining upon the drum vfor further "increasing said pres- --s'ure simultaneously withv commencement of i? reversal of such relative movement.

-' '9. A shock absorber for dampingrelative oscillation between two elements comprising a pairflof arms pivoted together at their inner I 'en'ds and adapted to o bes connected at their outer'ends respectively to said elements, acylindrical drumbrfonearm, a friction lining engaging'saiddrum, restraining means at one end ofsaid'lining and associated with the other arm, alever located partly within the cdrumand fulcrumed at itsouter end'to said other arm and attached to the free end of the-friction lining and variable loading means governed bv'the angularity of said arms operating on the, lever at its end Within the drum. r

inge'ngaging said drum, restraining means at one-.end of said lining and associated with the'other. arm, alever located partly within the drum and. fulcrumed at its outer end to said other arm and attached to the free end of the friction lining, variable loading means governed by the angularity of said arms for operating on the lever at its end within the drum, and constant loading means for operating on said lever without the drum.

11. A shock absorber for damping relative oscillation between two elements comprising ,a

a pair of arms pivoted together at their inner ends and adapted to. be connected at their outer ends respe tively to said elements, a cylindrical drum on one arm, a friction lining secured at'one end to the other arm i.

and engaging said drum, a lever located partly within the drum and fulcrumed at its outer end to said other arm and attached to larity of said arms for operating on the lever at it's end within the drum.

12. A shock absorber for damping relative the free end of the frictionlining, and variable loading means governed by the anguoscillation between two elements comprising apair of arms pivoted together at their inner'ends and adapted to be connected at their outer ends respectively to said elements, a cylindrical drum on one arm, a frictional lining engaging said drum, restraining means at one end of said lining and associated with the other arm, a lever located partly within. the drum and fulcr'umed at one end to said other arm and adapted to engage one end of said frictional lining, and variable loading means governed by the angularity of said ammsloperat'ing on the'lever at its end 'W-ithinthedrnm. 1 i i .1 o' f 13: Ashock absorber for damping relative oscillation between two elements comprising 1' a pair of arms pivoted together at their ends and adapted to be connected at their outer 7 ends respectively to'said elements, a cylin- 'drica'l drum on one ari'n,- a'friotion lining sen red'at a point removed from one end to the other' arm engaging 'with said cylindrical clrnin, aleverpivotally'connected'to the said end of the frictionallining and having re- 1 .silient connections to both said arms so that said connections cause said lever to hold the lining engaged with the drum, whereby receding movementiof said arins'permits said lever to relieve thelining from the drum and approaching movementmof the :arms causes-the lever to tighten the lining ulpon the drums, andwhereloy a return ofthearms' after an approaching movement is accompanied by abodily movement of the free end 7 of the lining in self-wrapping npon the drum {and therewith a tightening of one of said {2J5 resilient connections so that a further increase of the lining tension upon the drnm isproduced. I 1 5 In witness whereof, have herelinto signed namethis" 20th day or August, 1928.

' FULLERTON GEORGE-GORDON 4 e V V 1,880,418 

